I left this alone pending ID

Pet it profusely with attention and dedication.


Just kidding. That is a nope rope copperhead

I'd have killed it without a second thought.

My rule is if it's near my house and I can't immediately identify it as something common and non-threatening (garter snake, black snake, etc.), it's dead.

I've killed several questionable patterned brown snakes in my back yard over the years. Not worth the risk to me, my family, or my dogs.

Yep. Copperhead.

But leave it alone anyway. Doesn’t look like it’s interested in you.

-Rob

I pick them up, put them in a box, and drive them away from town.

When the kids were living at home, it was a good lesson. They didn't need to be afraid of wildlife, and learned to respect it. We also took the time to research the snake and observe its behavior, which was educational for them as well.

quote:

Originally posted by sns3guppy:
I pick them up, put them in a box, and drive them away from town.

If you do that with this snake, PLEASE make a video of you doing it.

Definitely, without question, this is a Copperhead. Glad you let it go. It's a gorgeous snake.

Agree with the assessments that that is a copperhead. If I don't HAVE to kill it, I don't. If it is out of the way and not threatening me or my family/pets, I leave them alone.

Nope, not a copperhead - don't see any "pits" near the eyes. Coppers are "pit vipers" and locating the pits is the way to truly recognize a copperhead.

My eyes are bad, but I don't see the pits.

quote:

Originally posted by craigcpa:
Nope, not a copperhead - don't see any "pits" near the eyes. Coppers are "pit vipers" and locating the pits is the way to truly recognize a copperhead.

My eyes are bad, but I don't see the pits.

Your eyes must have more megapixels than the camera the OP used.

Look at the shape of the head. That ain't no corn snake.

V shaped head, it is poisonous. If in nature, I leave alone, in my yard, around my animals or kids, I kill.

If non poisonous, I leave it be.

Dead

I usually dispatch a half dozen or so a year - 3 in one day! Several friends have been bitten and each say it’s a very painful bite.
A friend was clearing three adjoining lots next to his home for his kids to build on and every time he found a copperhead he’d go get his cat to let her sort it out. His cat was an absolute ninja. The final score was...
The cat several dozen
The copperheads 0

It sure doesn’t have the pattern of a copperhead. Are there variations?

http://www.whatsnakeisthat.com/?s=Copperhead+

I'm no expert, but that looks VERY Copperhead-ish to me!

Also, I'm not sure the pit would actually be visible at the camera angle of your shot. The head plat extends out and over the pit. At the angle of your photo, the pit may be obscured by the head plate.

Here are some photos of copperheads and similar looking snakes.

>>> https://www.virginiaherpetolog...likes/copperhead.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Muddflap:
It sure doesn’t have the pattern of a copperhead. Are there variations?

http://www.whatsnakeisthat.com/?s=Copperhead+

Yes, there are subspecies. The copperhead in the picture on that websites is a Trans Pecos Copperhead. They have thick bands.
https://www.google.com/search?...gB&biw=2560&bih=1298

The copperhead that the OP posted is either a northern copperhead, or a southern copperhead, or an intergrade between the two.
https://www.google.com/search?...BM&biw=2560&bih=1298

quote:

Originally posted by HighZonie:
I'm no expert, but that looks VERY Copperhead-ish to me!

Also, I'm not sure the pit would actually be visible at the camera angle of your shot. The head plat extends out and over the pit. At the angle of your photo, the pit may be obscured by the head plate.

Here are some photos of copperheads and similar looking snakes.

>>> https://www.virginiaherpetolog...likes/copperhead.htm

Down the page, a little bit, is a picture of an Eastern Copperhead. Sure looks like the one in the OP.

Clearly a copperhead. Many images here showing variations in color and patterns.

https://www.google.com/search?...mgrc=Z4WUcZPApJfFoM:

Where was the above snake seen?

Definitely a Copperhead.

If it's in your yard kill it. Don't take a chance that it will bite someone.

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